Systems and methods for decorticating the sacroiliac joint

Abstract

A system for decorticating at least one bone surface includes an elongated soft tissue protector, an elongated drive shaft and a cutter. The elongated soft tissue protector has a bore extending therethrough. The bore has a non-circular lateral cross-section, a maximum lateral extent and a minimum lateral extent. The cutter may be located on or near a distal end of the drive shaft. The cutter has a non-circular lateral cross-section, a maximum lateral extent and a minimum lateral extent. The maximum lateral extent of the cutter is greater than the minimum lateral extent of the bore but is no greater than the maximum lateral extent of the bore. The bore of the soft tissue protector is configured to slidably receive the cutter therethrough. Other systems and methods for decorticating at least one bone surface are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of decorticating at least one bone surface, the method comprising:
 forming an implant bore across a first bone into a space between the first bone and an adjacent second bone, the implant bore having a non-circular lateral cross-section, a maximum lateral extent and a minimum lateral extent; 
 inserting a cutter of a decorticating device through the non-circular implant bore and into the space between the first and second bones, the cutter having a non-circular lateral cross-section, a maximum lateral extent and a minimum lateral extent, the maximum lateral extent of the cutter being greater than the minimum lateral extent of the implant bore but no greater than the maximum lateral extent of the implant bore; and 
 rotating the cutter of the decorticating device such that the maximum lateral extent of the cutter extends laterally beyond the implant bore and decorticates a surface of at least one of the first and second bones. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first bone is an ilium and the second bone is a sacrum. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises withdrawing the cutter from the implant bore and placing an implant into the implant bore. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant bore has a rectilinear lateral cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the rectilinear lateral cross-sectional profile is generally triangular in shape. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises inserting a guide pin across the first bone and into the second bone, and sliding the cutter of the decortication device over the guide pin. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the decorticating device further comprises a handle and a drive shaft interconnecting the handle to the cutter, and wherein the method further comprises manually manipulating the handle to rotate the cutter and to move the cutter longitudinally relative to the implant bore. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the handle or a proximal end of the drive shaft is provided with an indexing feature configured to show a rotational orientation of the drive shaft and the cutter relative to the implant bore, wherein the method further comprises manipulating the handle to align the cutter with and retract the cutter through the non-circular implant bore.